By: John Axtell Posted at: 02/28/2019 04:32 PMPIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Wednesday was State-Tribal Relations Day at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre, with a bill recognizing the state's indigenous languages moved to the House floor on a unanimous committee vote and with Gov Kristi Noem revealing plans to permanently display the flags of South Dakota nine tribal nations in the Capitol rotunda.

Noem said the state has "a unique opportunity for a new beginning" with the tribal governments and that bringing tribal flags to the rotunda is a sign that the are "unified and working together to create policies for the next generation.

Noem, in office less than 2 months, also said she wants the rotunda to be "a place that represents the culture of South Dakota, and we can’t do that without the symbols of all nine tribes." She hopes it will be seen by all as a sign that South Dakota is united truly embrace the meaning of the word Dakota. "We are allies.”

State Senator Troy Heinert of Mission said the day was about letting Native Americans in South Dakota know that state government and the legislature take them seriously and that they are the state's identity.

Heinert was also excited about the involvement of students from Pine Ridge in the campaign to pass the indigenous languages bill. He said a large number of students drove up from the reservation to testify and that you could feel the pride and emotion in the room when they were testifying